Well-boring apparatus.



T. H. SLAVIN.

WELL BORING APPARATUS.` APPUCAHON FILED APR.24.1913.

- 1,273,099, Patentedzruly 16, 1918i.-

HIS ATTDRNEY A iinrrnn srAfrEs PATENT' canina.

THOMAS H. sLAviN, or Los ANGELES, CALIEORNIAASSIGNOE", EY DIRECT A nMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, or ONE-HALE 'ro CHARLES E. WILoox, 0E BAKEnsEi LD,CALI- Y FoENIA, vANI) ONE-HALE rro WILLIAM W. WILSON, OELOSIAIVGIEIIIFS, CALIFORNIA.

WELL-Bonino APrARa'iUs.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

'Be it known that I,A THOMAS H. SLAVIN,

'a citizen of the' United States, residing at specilicat-ion.

This invention relates to Awell boring apparatus and particularly toapparatus lfor drillingoriboriiw deep wellsi'or the extraction of oilandaother fluids. Iii such ap? paratus it is customary to eniplovastring' of pipe which is lowered `in the` well as the development of thesame proceeds. and at' the lower end of which the drilling or boringtool or device is provided. Means are provided at the surface forrotating sui-h string. ofA pipe to actuate the boring or drill- :ingtool or device. lVhat is customaril \Y designated as a rotary top isprovided.` the saine co-acting Nith" the string of pipe. directly orthrough suitable devices or operative connections. causing the rotationof the string of pipe and the drillingor boring tool. Suitable means areprovided for driving the rotary top. The present invention relates tothe organization of the string of pipe, or a. length or portion thereofwhich is used to rotate the string, and also to the means or deviceswhich co-act with the pipe or said joint or portion thereof and furtherco-act with the rotary top so as to unite the string-and the rotary topin a rotative cou- Many attempts have been niade to perfect and simplifydevicesand means adapted for this service, so as to produce the propergripping or interlocking relation permitting rotation and likewisevertical or endwise movement of the stringhto- .'gether with thatsimplicity and inexpensiveness 'of organization which are desiderata insuch apparatus.

The invention Vfurther relates-y to the con struction and organizationof the string or, that joint `or portioiithereof to which the rotativeaction is directly transmitted from the rotary top. Certain .features ofacirc'u 'iatory system for water or the like enter into the constructionand organization of this operative length or joint of the string ofpipe.

specification of Letters ratnt.

Patented July 16, 191g.y

Applicatie 'inea Ap'rn 24, 191s. serial no. 763,345.

The invention further has for its object to provide apparatus inclusiveof th.J general features above stated which Will be generally superiorin efficiency and serviceability, durability, vfacility in installationand'a'ttachment or detachment and adjustnient, positiveness inoperation, and adaptability to varying conditions of service,

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists'inthenovel and use'` ful provision, formation.,` construction,ycombination andassociation of parts, members and features hereinaftervdescribed, ,shown in the drawing. and finally pointed out in claims.

ln thczdrawing: y y Figure l is a vertical transverse sectional viewofwell boring apparatus constructed and organized in accordance with theinvention. and taken on the line rc1-#m1,

pended arrows;

Fig. Q is a transverse horizontal view' of the saine. taken on ythelinem2-af2, Fig. l, and looking in the direction of tlie'appendedarrows:

Fig. 3 is asimilar fragmentary View taken upon the line .fr-:c3, Fig. 1,and looking in the direction of the. appended arrows;

Fig. Ll is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. Q-and showing a modiedformof construction;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partially broken away aiid in section, of afeature of the iniprovements shown. in the dther ligures, being indetached position; and.

Fig. 6 is a top' plan'view of the showing inFig. 5. y

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designatedby the samereference characters.

Referring "with particularity to the drawing, A designates the base orframe and B the rotary top or table of the rotary well boring apparatus,anti-friction devices 7 be#` D designates member of the boringstrinfr i,2. and looking in the direction of the" apn l which 'is\nconstructed ormodiiied in practising the"invention.- In Fig. 4 I show 'a' joint orstring member E which is varied 1n con* struction from the member D. Fdesignates means of operative connection between the rotary table topand the member D. in alll 4the figures but Fig. 4; and G designatescorresponding means of operative eonnec# Ation in the construction shownin Fig. 4. Each of these means serve to interlock the member D or E withthe rotary table -top nels or grooves 13 in opposedportions of the ofsaid tapered end body, the same 'being placed ,ing-'the body incontinuous points somewhat within thetapered threaded end portions ofthe body.' Other channels 14, diametrically opposed, are produced in thebody l1 alternating with the channels 13 around the cylindrical body,such channels, however,` being spaced' each less than 90 from one of thechannels 13 and consequently more than 90 from the other channel 13,producing metallic masses or walls of greater thickness at one side ofeach of such-channels 14 for'the purposes hereinafter ,set forth. Thechannels 14 are produced lengthwise of the body 11 continuously andsomewhat beyond the terminations of the channels 13, as clearly shown inFig. 5, the terminal portions of such channels 14 being, however,respectively vbelow. and above the tapered end portions of the body 11;and through each ortions are produced divergent bores 15. y he pipes ortubes 16 of a circulating system are passed into the channels 14, theends thereof being bent to project within' the respective communicatingbores 15. To the ends of each of the pipes 16 are applied loekmuts 17retaining the pipes against longitudinal displacement..

It will be understood that I deiine the body or stem 11 as solid todistinguish it from the pipe of lengths 4or joints of which rotarystrings are ordinarily made up. The

in'vention in this respect concerns the provision o f a channel'orpassage or duct for the 'supply of liquid through or .pastthe stem ordrive portion of the string, suchstem or drive portion ^being in theform of a strong torsionfresisting, string-rotating shaft or beam orcolumn or post so channeled yor bored, rather than in :the form 'of apipe.

The operative connections F between the j member D and the table top Bcomprise a bushing 18'having a' top annular flange 19 resting upon thetable top, the bushing 18 pins or the like 22. Between the bushing 18and the member D is` disposed a built-up bushing 23 which comprises twobowed por-- tions 23a and 23b which fit the outer surface of the memberD in a common curvature.

'Each of these bushing portions 23 and 23"4 f `formation betweenterminal is provided with a fixed or` integral vertical tongue or head24, and such members or portions 23a and 23b are'joined together attheir vertical edges with and by separable tongues 25. The members 2 3aand 23b have outwardly ranging vertical edge anges 26, Between theopposedflanges 26 of each pair of such flanges, one upon each of suchbushing'mem'bers, thevtongues 25 are clamped by bolts 27 passingtransversely through such tongues or heads and the anges and having nuts28 detachably holding .the parts together. The bushing members 23*r and23b are provided each with an outwardly proj ecting flange 29 whichrests upon the upper surface of the flange 19 on the bushing 18, holdingthe entire built-up bushing 23 against displacement downwardly withinthe table opening 20. The integral heads or tongues 24 take intovertical channels 30 in the side walls of the bushing 18 to lock thebushing 23 and the bushing 18 together for joint rotation. The tongues25 are provided with outwardly projecting T-heads 25El taking intovertical channels 3l in the walls of the bushing 18. The channels 30 and31 are arranged in spaced relation 900' apart in the bushing 18, theheads 24 and 25 being correspondingly spaced `upon the bushing VThetongues 25 .are provided with inwardly directed heads 25b 4which takeinto the channels 13 upon-the member D. The heads 24 and 25a and 25b allhave a proper working fit with the walls of the channels 30 and 31 and13; and when the heads24 and 25a and 25b are in the said channels andthe parts are assembled as shown, the -member D is interlocked with thebushing 23 and the bushing 23 is interlocked with the bushing 18 whichin turn is locked by the pins l22 to the table top B, so that uponlrotation .of the table top it rotates jointly therewith and the memberDis moved. 'Ifhe elonga tion ofthe channels 13, with respect tothevertical extentfofthe bushing 23, permits the member D to playvertically in the operation ofthe boring string, at the-'same time thattheboring string is rotated. I

'It willbeundersto'od'that the string-of which'thev member D constitutesa part in operation, is continued on below themem izo ber D, beingcoupled on to the lower end of the member D at the screw threadedtapered lower portion 12 thereof. Similarly, 'the suspension means forthe string are coupled on to the upper threaded tapered end of themember D, together with the means for supplying liquid for thecirculation system including the pipes or tubes 16. None of theseremaining features of the string or of the circulation system orsuspension means are shown in the drawing, nor will the same bedescribed, as they do not .per se enter into the invention in anyparticular manner or in any manner involved in thespecifc construction.

It will be understood that the members 23a and 23b of the bushing 23 areassembled together upon the member D, together with the heads 24 andtongues 25, the heads 25b being introduced within the chadnnels 13 insuch process of assembling. The member D with the bushing 23 are t-henassembled with the bushing 18, previously installed in 'connection withthetable top B, the heads 24 and heads25a being interengaggd with thebushing 18 in the Channels 30 a11d 31 therein. The parts are now'inposition and connection for rotating the string through the bushings 18and 23 upon the rotation of the table top. And whenit is desired to adda fresh joint of pipe the stringis raised by means of the member Dandthe suspension means above it,.the member D. raising the bushing 23clear of the bushing 18 b v interengagement of the lower end walls ofthe channels 13 with ythe heads 25h. lvlien the fresh joint of pipe hasbeen' added to the string, it is coupled on to the loyver threaded endof the member D and that member is again lowered to interengage thebushing 23 with the bushing 18 and permit the rotary operation toproceed.

Inthe form of construction shown in 'Fig'. 4, the bushing 18 isutilized, being`pinned to the table top-in the same manner as shown 3 inthe other figures, andr being of the same 1n place of the bushing l23,however, l utilize a one-piece or integral construction.

bushing 32 which has a plurality of outwardly projecting heads 33arranged prefer-- ably 90o apart and taking into channels 30 and 31 inthe bushing 18 for similar interlocking purpose. T he member E of thestring shown in Fig. 4- is disclosed as square tapered ends and theother features last referred to not being shown but being identical inprovision and arrangement and formation with Vthe corresponding featuresshown in the other figures. The parts of the construction shown `in Eig.4 are assem- Amanner as set forth with respect to the otherconstruction, and suitable suspension means and other parts of thecireulation system are coupled on to the upper end of the member E inthe same manner as described. When the member E is raised away from theremaining portionsY of the string to permit insertion or addition ofafresh joint of pipe, the coupling at the lower end ofsuch member E willengage with the bushing 32 and raise it up out of the bushing 18 so thatthefresh joint may be passed through such lattery bushing.

The construction of the bushing 23, in its built-up form, permitsY ofconvenient assembling' of the parts, and likewise permits of 'thesubstitution of fresh .tongues 25 when the heads on said tongues becomewornor mutilated. Should the heads 24 become mutilated `fresh bushingmembers 23a and 23" with such heads may be substituted if necessary. fMost of the wear will come upon the detachable tongues 25 which are madeof hardermaterial than the bowed members 23al and 23b with the integralheads 24; and therefore, ordinarily, any mutilation of the heads 24 maybe cured by ordinary process of repair, so that under all ordinarycircumstances the members 23a and 23b of the bushing 23 will be longlived and the only parts needing replacement, yif such need arises, willbe the detachable tongues 25. 1t will thus be seen that by providingsuch fresh tongues 25 the effects of ordinary wear .will be remediedwithout substituting an entirely new inner bushing member. By spacingthe channels 14 each farther away from y `one of the channels 13 thanthe other, I am 'enabied to provide increased thickness of metalahead-of the driving heads 25 of the v' bushing 23, and between thevchannels 13 and the channels 14 in the directionof drive, having thus`the advantage of the'greater strength of'such increase of metal over anarrangement of channels in which they were' equi-distantly spacedthroughoutvrthe series thereof. 1

1 do not desirelthat my invention be onsidered as limited'to any of theparticular and specific features otl construction, formation .andrelative arrangement and combiiso , nation herein set forth, but thatthe invenclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a well boring apparatus, a boring string member beneath whichmembers of the string and the boring tool are suspended, and acirculation pipe extendingv lengthwise of the member and exteriorlyapplied thereto.

l2. In well boring apparatus, a boring string member, and a circulationpipe extending lengthwise of the member; said member comprising a bodyprovided with a side channel within which the circulation pipe lies inlpart, and with end bores Within which parts of theV circulation pipealso extend.

,3. YIn well boi'ing apparatus, a boring string member, and acirculation pipe extending lengthwise of the member; said membercomprising a body provided with a side channel within which thecirculation `pipe lies in part, and with end bores within which parts ofthe circulation pipe also extend; the ends of said body being threaded lthe string.

y .4.' In well boringl apparatus, a boring string member, and acirculation pipe extending lengthwise of the member; said membercomprising a body provided with a side channel within which thecirculation pipe lies iii part, and with end bores within which parts ofthe circulation pipe also extend; the ends of said body being taperedand threaded' for connection with the re- 'ber and opposing longitudinaldisplacement o f said pipe.

6. In wellboring apparatus, a boring string member having spacedchannels extending lengthwise of the mem-ber and pi'oduced inwardly atthe sidesithereof, and ciri culation pipes lying in part within thechanf nels,

.7. 'In well boring apparatus, a boring string-'member having spacedchannels extending lengthwise of the member and produced inwardly at thesides thereof, and circulatioii pipes lying in part within. thechannels; said member having bores extending through the ends of themember and communicating with the channels and withiny which otherportions of the circulation 'pipes extend.

8. In well boring apparatus,v a boring string member comprising anelongated body provided with a plurality of spaced,.loiigitu dinalchannels one oir which is provided for engagement by a rotary table, anda circulation pipe extending in part in another of said channels.'

9. In well boring apparatus, a boring string member comprising anelongated body provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal channelsone of which is provided for engagement by a rotary table, and acirculation pipe extending rin part in another ofsaid channels; saidmember having a bore produced lengthwise of the member at each endthereof and connnunicating with the channel within which lies saidcirculation pipe, and portions 'of the circulation pipe extending withinsaid bores.- v

l0. In well boring apparatus,` a boring string member comprising anelongated body provided with two sets of longitudinal chan- .nels one ofwhich sets is provided for 'engagement by a rotary table, andcirculation pipes lying in the chaiiiielsof tlieother set thereof, eachof said channels vith-in which said circulation pipes lies beingunequally spaced :trom'tl-ie channels of the other set thereof.

1l. In apparatus of the character. set forth, a boring string membercomprising an elongated body provided with4 a pluralityY of longitudinalchannels, certain of said channels terminating short of the ends of saidbody, ,md L circulation pipe lying in another of said channels, saidbodyhavingan end bore communicating with one endI of the pipe-receivingchannel and within which bore a portion of the pipe extends.

12. In well boring apparatus, a 'boring string member having an outsidelengthwise channel, and a circulation pipe extending lengthwise of themember iii said outside channel. .therein.

In testimony whereof, I lhave signed my name to this specification inthe two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS I-I. SLAVIN.

It is heeby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,273,099, granted July176, 1918, upon the application ff Themes H. Slevin, of Los Angeles,Califoi'nia, for an iinpi rement in WelLBoring Apparatus, wereerroneously issued to Charles E.

Wilcox and V'ifi/illimite W. 'Viiilson as Owners of the said invention,Whereas' said Letters Patent should have been issued to Arthur G.Willard and Will/am W.

Wilson, (LS assignees, by direct cmd mesu@ assignmems, of one-halfinter-est each in said invention', es shown by the records ofassignments in this ofce; and that the said Letters Patent should bereed with this correction therein that the seme may conform the recordof the ease in the Patent Ohce.

Signecl and sealed this 2nd dey of September, A. D., 1919.

[SEAL] I' M. H. CQULSTON? Acting Commissioner of Patente.

